Dutch high street staple Hema opened its 200^th store outside the Netherlands in Barcelona on Thursday.

Hema, which is in the midst of a substantial expansion programme, now operates more than 700 outlets in nine European countries, the Telegraaf reported on Friday.

Hema said it is also looking into markets where it does not already have a presence. Two stores are to be opened in Austria in April and a number of Hemas will open their doors in Dubai before summer. The Dutch company is also looking into additional stores elsewhere in the Middle East.

‘We hope to open at least 35 stores outside the Netherlands this year and will acelerate our international expansion the coming years,’ said Hema chairman Tjeerd Jegen. Hema mostly opens stores in large cities abroad to speed up brand awareness.